Oyster-washing machine



(No Model.)

3Sheets-Sheet 1. W. N. MAGQUEEN.

OYSTER WASHING MACHINE.

Patented June 14, 1892.

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OYSTER WASHING MACHINE. No. 477,134. Patented June 14, 1892.

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W. N. MAGQUEEN OYSTER WASHING MACHINE. No. 477,134. Patented June 14,1892.

l lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

WILLIAM N. MACQUEEN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

OYSTER-WASHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,134, dated June 14.1892.

Application filed November 17, 1891. Serial No. 412,188. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM N. MAooUEEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new anduseful Oyster-\Vashing Machine, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for washing oysters previous tothe process of canning the same, and the objects in view are to providean apparatus of cheap and simple construction adapted to uniformly andexpeditiously cleanse the shocked oysters and give the same a finalrinsing, whereby they are prepared for the process of canning.

A further object of the invention is to provide for a reuse of the wateremployed in cleansing the oysters, whereby the same is not Wasted, and asaving amounting to considerable in localities Where there is a scarcityof water is effected.

\Vith the above objects in view the invention consists in certainfeatures of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter specifiedand particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the entireapparatus. Fig. 2 is a transverse section in detail of the tub-carryingturn-table. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rinsing-machine. Fig. 4is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 5 is a transverse section. Fig.6 is a detail in perspective of the oyster-cylinder. Fig. 7 is aperspective View of the apparatus.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 designates the tubcarrying turn-table upon whichthe oysters receive their preliminary washing.

2 designates the platform occupied by the attendant who places theoysters upon the turn-table.

3 designates the point at which the oysters are removed from theturn-table, and 4 designates the final washing or rinsing machine, towhich the oysters are conveyed and subjected subsequent to their removalfrom the turn-table.

5 designates a cooling-tub, and 6 a pipe leading from therinsing-machine to said tub, for a purpose hereinafter made apparent.

The turn-table consists of a circular table or wheel 7, which issupported upon a vertical shaft 8, stepped in suitable bearings, and inthis instance revolved by hand, together with the table, though othermeans may be employed for this purpose. At intervals there is mountedupon the table ordinary tubs 9, which are partially filled with water.

10 designates the semicircular tub of the rinsing-machine, and to thesame leads a water-supply pipe 11. A drain-pipe 12 and an overflow-pipe13 lead, respectively, from the bottom and near the top of therinsing-tub 10, communicate outside the tub, and merge into asupply-pipe 6, leading to the cooling-tank 5. The pipe 6 is onlyemployed in sections of the country where water is scarce, and whenemployed serves to reuse the same by conducting it to the tank 5, inwhich in the ordinary process of canning the cans are set for thepurpose of suddenly chilling their contents and arresting the operationof cocking. The opposite ends or heads of the rinsing-tub 10 areprovided with a pair of longitudinally-opposite bearings 1a, and thesame receive the axial truunions 15, formed upon the opposite end wallsof an internal revo luble frame. One of the trunnions extends throughthe head of the tub and carries a large gear 16, which is engaged andadapted to be rapidly rotated through the medium of a small gear 17,mounted upon a stub-shaft 18, journaled in a bracket 19, secured to thetub, said shaft being rotated through the medium of an ordinary crank19". The internal revoluble frame in this instance consists of a pair ofopposite rectangular heads 21, which are connected at their four sidesby a longitudinal strip 22, so that the frame is open. One of the strips22 is hinged, as at 23, to the edge of the end wall of the frame, andmay be locked at its opposite end when the strip is lowered by means ofa turn-button 24, swiveled upon the adjacent end wall. The strip mayalso be maintained in an elevated position by means of a swiveled hook25, mounted upon the end wall of the rinsingtub, and when so maintainedlocks the internal frame against rotation.

26 designates the oyster receptacle or cylinder, and the same hasaeover27 removably placing a cylinder Within or withdrawing it from theinternal frame.

In operation, the oysters as they are delivered by the shuckers to theattendant at Fig. 2 are emptied by the attendant into the cylinders thatare in tubs on turn-table, which tubs are partly filled with water.WVhen the first cylinder has sufficient oysters in it, the attendantturns the table so as to bring another cylinder in position to befilled, and so on in rotation. Vhen thefirst cylinder filled reaches thepoint 3,01 wherever it is to be removed from the tub by the secondattendant, he twists it around several times in the tub, so as to washout the rough sand, &c., then removes it, (places an empty one in itsplace,) puts the cover on it, and puts it in the rinsing or washingmachine, and by a few rapid turns of the machine the oysters arethoroughly washed and freed from all impurities, that the holes incylinder will allow to pass through. Fresh Water is kept flowing intothe machine all the time it is in use. In inserting and removing thecylinders the internal frames are held stationary by the meansheretofore described. IVhen the cylinders are removed from therinsing-machine,the oysters are emptied onto the sorting-table, wherethey are sorted, and all shells, &c., that were too large to passthrough the holes in cylinders are removed. The packing then proceeds inthe usual way. Before removing the filled cylinders from tubs onturn-table the operator twists them around several times,which partlywashes the oysters. The water from said tubs is allowed to go to Waste,and pure fresh water is constantly flowing into the rinsing-machine, andthe water from said machine first passes into a settling-tub and fromthat to thecoolin g-tub,so that when it reaches the cooling-tub it-is inas good condition for the purpose required as if it had never been used.

In various localities of the country water is a scarcity and requiresconstant attempts at saving in orderto meet the demand. For this reasonalone, therefore, I prefer in some instances to provide the pipe 6,heretofore men'- tioned,which conducts the running water after it haspassed through the rinsing-machine, and serves its useful purpose inthat respect, to the tank 5, where itserves to cool and check theprocess of cooking going on within the cans.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that I have provided an apparatus of greatsimplicity and easily operated,'and adapted to facilitate this first orprimary step in the process of packingnamely, a thorough washing of thebivalves.

Numerous changes in regard to the details of my invention will readilysuggest themselves, and I do not limit my invention to the detailsherein shown, but hold that I may make such changes as experience maysuggest and as are comprehended in the term mechanical skill.

Having described my invention, what I claim isv 1. In an apparatus ofthe class described, a revoluble turn-table havinga series ofwater-receiving tubs mounted at intervals there on and removableperforated cylindersmounted in the tubs, substantially as specified.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination, with arotatable turn-table, a series of water-receptacles thereon, of atubhaving bearings, a series of perforated oyster-receiving cylindersmounted in the receptacles and removable therefrom, and means forremovably and rotatably supporting them in the tub, substantially asspecified.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination, with therotatable turntable, the series of receptacles arranged at intervalsthereon, and the series of perforated cylinders removably mounted in thereceptaeles, of the tub, means for supporting a cylinder removably androtatably in the tub, and the cooling-tank adjacent to the table andtub, substantially as specified.

i. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination, with the tubhaving opposite bearings, of the internal frame having trunnions mountedin the bearings and provided with a lid or cover, means for rotating theinternal frame, and a perforated oysterreceiving cylinder mounted in theinternal frame, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with the tub, of the internal rotatable frame, acover for the frame, means for locking the cover in a raised or loweredposition, a perforated oyster-receiving cylinder, and oppositerectangular bands fitting in the internal frame and secured over thecylinder near its ends, substantially as specified.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination, with the tubhaving bearings,the internal frame comprising the opposite rectangularends andlongitudinal connecting-strips, one of which is hinged to one ofthe ends, a button located on the opposite end for locking the strip ina closed position, and a hook on the tub for locking the strip in araised position, and the perforated cylinder having the rectangularstraps and linger-loops adapted to fit within the frame, substantiallyas specified.

IIO

7. In an apparatus of the class described, In testimony that IcIairn theforegoing as the combination, with the tub for receiving my own I havehereto aflixed my signature in the rinsing-cylinder and thecooling-tank, of the presence of two witnesses.

an inlet supply-pipe for the tub and an out- VILLIAM N. MACQUEEN. 5let-pipe for the latter, said outlet-pipe lead- Witnesses:

ing to the cooling tank, substantially as E. O. DUNCAN,

specified. JAMES M. CONGLETON.

